The Saz (or Baglama) is a chordophone and is a member of the long necked lute family. Lutes have an ancestry that can be traced as far back as the ancient cultures of Babylon and Sumeria. Today the saz is the most important instrument of the Turkish folk. The saz may even define the poetic heart of the Turkish people. Its general shape is similar to the Bouzouki and an oud. To play the saz musicians used to pluck with the fingers of their right hand and note the strings with the fingers, and occasionally the thumb, of their left hand.
Today however, most players use a plastic plectrum to strum the strings. Professional players also use electronic pickups to amplify the sound. When playing with the fingers or a plectrum, musicians can hit the soundboard with their right hand, adding rhythm.
